Leo Almazora

Leo Almazora is the resident US news writer at InvestmentNews, a role he has held since February 2024. He covers a broad range of topics central to the financial advisory industry, including broker-dealer news, registered investment advisor (RIA) activity, advisor recruitment and moves, retirement planning, elder fraud, and wealth technology across the United States. Leo brings nearly a decade of financial journalism experience to his reporting, having developed deep expertise in equities, fixed income, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), alternative investments, and wealthtech through extensive conversations with portfolio managers, financial advisors, and industry executives.

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Leo Almazora
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Americans want a different kind of retirement — and they’re willing to pay for time and health
RETIREMENT PLANNING DEC 12, 2025
Americans want a different kind of retirement — and they’re willing to pay for time and health

Nearly half of people surveyed by Edelman Financial Engines want to reinvent retirement even as money, inflation, and Social Security fears weigh on their plans.

Bluespring, Concurrent tout 2025 growth records
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS DEC 12, 2025
Bluespring, Concurrent tout 2025 growth records

Bluespring's acquisition-led strategy brought in more than $6 billion, while Concurrent’s minority-stake model helped drive a 50% jump in assets.

Cerity Partners invests in Nasdaq Private Market, gains exclusive access to tender participants
ALTERNATIVES DEC 11, 2025
Cerity Partners invests in Nasdaq Private Market, gains exclusive access to tender participants

Cerity’s $10 million stake gives its advisors a front-row role in NPM-run liquidity programs, with planning support tied to employee tender proceeds.

FSI urges risk‑based AI oversight, warns against piling on new rules
FINTECH DEC 11, 2025
FSI urges risk‑based AI oversight, warns against piling on new rules

Guidance calls for oversight calibrated to use‑case risk, from note‑taking and admin tools to higher‑stakes decision engines.

Team-based advisor shops trounce lone wolf practices, Cerulli says
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT DEC 11, 2025
Team-based advisor shops trounce lone wolf practices, Cerulli says

Advisor teams showed more larger books, more dramatic organic growth, and more expansive services than solo advisors.

RIA moves: Lido adds $500M Palos Verdes firm focused on defined outcomes
RIA NEWS DEC 11, 2025
RIA moves: Lido adds $500M Palos Verdes firm focused on defined outcomes

Mercer also expanded in Portland with Thompson Advisory’s $260 million book, while Waverly picks up a $257 million Pennsylvania shop.

IRS issues guidance for wider HSA access as lawmakers spar over ACA aid
RETIREMENT PLANNING DEC 11, 2025
IRS issues guidance for wider HSA access as lawmakers spar over ACA aid

Permanent telehealth relief takes effect for 2025 plan years, with bronze and catastrophic marketplace plans becoming HSA‑compatible in 2026.

Q3 annuity sales hit record $121.2B as advisors lean into VA and RILA contracts
RETIREMENT PLANNING DEC 09, 2025
Q3 annuity sales hit record $121.2B as advisors lean into VA and RILA contracts

LIMRA projects full-year 2025 annuity sales projected to top $450 billion, with independent broker-dealers driving more than half of third-quarter sales in registered annuity products.

FINRA flags GenAI, cyber fraud, and sales practices in 2026 regulatory agenda
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE DEC 09, 2025
FINRA flags GenAI, cyber fraud, and sales practices in 2026 regulatory agenda

Self-regulator outlines emerging AI use cases at member firms, rising techn‑driven scams, and persistent supervisory weaknesses in marketing and annuity recommendations.

$580B RIA Wealthspire builds out C-suite following PE-backed unification
RIA NEWS DEC 09, 2025
$580B RIA Wealthspire builds out C-suite following PE-backed unification

The freshly announced roles across finance, people, marketing and legal aim to support a larger, more complex organization serving clients in three countries.